The Origin and Chemistry of Life

Prepared by: Asst. Prof.

Sheryl Santa Cruz-Biscocho
 Origin of Life
Earth 4.6 BYA
hot, barren, little liquid water,
geologically active
Atmosphere CH4, NH3, H2O, H2, CO2
Only a trace of free oxygen
(reducing environment)

Over time, the earths crust cooled

liquid water becomes more
common
Elements
. necessary for life
(C, N, H, O, P, S) are dissolved in water
 Abiotic Molecular Evolution
Russian biochemist Alexander I. Oparin and British
biologist J.B.S. Haldane 1920s

Gradual, progressive assembly of small organic molecules

into more complex forms

1. Carbohydrates-
2. Lipids
3. Proteins
4. Nucleic Acids
 Chemical Evolution
Simple Molecules More Complex Molecules
H H Carbohydrates
Fatty Acids
O C O Amino Acids
H O H
H N H

H H
H C H
4
H
Carbohydrates

5
Fatty Acids

6
Amino Acids

7
Stanley Miller and Harold Urey
(1953)

Produced urea, amino acids,

and simple fatty acids
 Organic Molecules

Polymerization

RNA, protein

Proteinoid Microspheres
(Protocells)

Metabolism (Catalysis)

Cells
 First Living Thing?
3.8 BYA
Anaerobic, thermophilic, heterotrophic
Prokaryote (Archaea)
 Autotrophy
Phototrophs-
CO2 + H2O + energy CH2O + O2
use light energy to fix carbon
production of O2 ! Changes atmosphere

Chemotrophs
eg. Hydrothermal Vent Communities
use chemical energy to fix carbon and nitrogen
CO2 + H2S + energy CH2O + thiosulfate
Hydrothermal Vent Communities
Cyanobacteria (Blue-Green Algae)
3 BYA, dominant life-form

Achaean Microfossil
3.5 BYA
Proteinoid
Microspheres
Similar to protocells
Protocells
Reproduce
Natural selection favored
those with the most
efficient replicating
systems
RNA
DNA

15
16
Eukaryotes -2 BYA
Endosymbiont Theory L. Margulis (1981)
Polyphyletic (originated more than once)
 The First Animals
Fossils Date to 575 MYA
Molecular data suggests as early as 700 MYA
Foraminifera
Protozoans
Metazoans colonial sponges and corals
Vendian Period
Precambrian 560 MYA

Foraminiferan
Cambrian Explosion
Cambrian Explosion (543-510 MYA) multicellular organisms flourish and diversify

Burgess Shale
quarry British
Columbia

Late Cambrian/
Ordovician
Characteristics of Animals
Fig. 2.16